[veronica]

Its just a thought that a lot of you, although you are all in a hurry to get here, might find it easier to settle if you arrived the 'other side' of the winter.

You have all probably read threads that mention the lack of good rentals and how cold the houses are in winter here with little or no insulation and heating. When you first arrive theres a lot to do and although you may be as excited and optimistic as can be it can really dent your confidence in what you have done if the only rental you can find is damp and cold.

If there is no specific reason to get to NZ in June, July or August it may just make a happier and smoother transition if the arrival was timed for September when spring is starting and the weather improving. That way by the time the next winter arrives there is a fair chance that you may be in your own house with the heating issues already sorted.

Just a random idea that I thought might be worth chucking in the melting pot. whats anyone elses thoughts on this.

[xanctus]

How about during Fall? say...April-June maybe?
I am planning on going there around that time, but not certain yet.
nonetheless, thank's for the input veronica

[neilw71]

Veronica.......I kind of view it that if you get there as Winter approaches and you can survive and even enjoy the new life in those conditions, then it will make the arrival of the following Summer an extra joy and something to truely look forward to :P

Personally, we have a cold house here in the UK and donlt ming Winter, so have no problem going from Winter to Winter. I KNOW I will enjoy the first Summer 10x more when it finally arrives!

Just my thoughts as well :P

Neil

[RoadRunner]

Interesting point.

Although, I'm not sure which is worse - a NZ cold/wet winter or a Tucson summer (with temperatures well over 100 degress for three straight months!).

[lindajax]

Hi All,

On the topic of times to arrive - we had a bit of difficulty when we arrived - everywhere was closed for the Xmas holidays ( they are quite long here too and not everyone works in between Xmas and Ney year).
Our estate agent said rentals are difficult to find around this time ( we arrived 2nd Jan). Luckily we managed to get one but it could've been a bigger problem if our agent hadn't been so good.

BTW - estate agents and rental agents tend to be a bit unconcerned about getting you sorted - don't answer calls or arrange viewings unless badgered. The one we used turned out to be a gem & sorted all the utilities and telephone etc for us - other ones were rubbish and uninterested.

So Xmas can be a dodogy time to arrive

Linda xx

[foolsgold99]

Linda, can I ask who you used as an agent? We are hoping to come over June/July in time for the winter! And any good contacts would be great for us.

With regards to weather, we took the attitude mentioned above, it can only get better!

Ta.

Sal

[Diny]

Although I think you have a good point - and peoples best interests at heart - I can't imagine for one moment that anybody would delay their departure/arrival for the sake of the weather - not after the many months of knife edge emotions that the entire immigration process piles upon us. Being able to arrive in the summer months is an added bonus I agree.

Diny

[Moorf]

I'd hate to go thru the winter in this rental (or many of the others we've seen) - great though it is - I'm glad we arrived end Sept when it was cold but not COLD... we know what to expect (and more) for winter but at least we got to live the first 6 mths in relative comfort without good heating. I am sure that 6mths in a cold rental will leave some wondering what on earth they've done and I've heard as much from those who have already made the move!

[veronica]

Diny its not just a weather issue and while you are perhaps tough enough (or perhaps cushioned by having PBs family there) others aren't. The main 'knife edge emotion' thing is getting the visa. once thats secure its just hard work sorting houses and that type of thing out. It could be the difference between spending another 3 months getting stuff organised more leisurely in the UK then coming out into a better environment, or 3 months being cold and unhappy because of it and wondering what the h**l you've done. If anyone out there in the UK is a creature comforts addict and not a happy camper type of person then it could really put a major downer on someone. You all know what type of person you are and its something that should perhaps be considered in the overall long term success of the venture.

[Douglas]

I'd certainly recommend getting here in the late spring or summer - you instantly feel one-up because you've cheated old mother nature by trading in a winter for an extra summer - no bad thing. There are a lot of grotty rentals here (some nice ones too if you're patient) and a warm grotty rental (because it's summer) is much more tolerable than a cold, damp, grotty rental (because it's winter). Those few months of warm weather get your migration off to a very postive start - no bad thing again - and give you time to look for a good quality house to buy or rent before winter comes along - the winters here are much better than in the UK or NW Europe or most of the USA - but definitely more enjoyable in a warm house. Warm houses do exist but are less easily found than in colder countries. :yes

[jhsay]

Hi guys,
Mine concern is a little different. What are the bad months for hiring employees? For sure, I want to be hired immediately went I arrive in the northern island.
jinkee

[lindajax]

Jinkie,

Again when we got here 2nd Jan Most employers were off for the Xmas hols and some only returned this week!

Luckily Ali had a great agency at work for him and he had secured an interview before coming but the first available was 10th Jan. He did manage to get that job and another besides in the first 3 weeks but had we arrived 2 weeks earlier it would have taken 5 weeks :eek

So just before Xmas from a job point of view - in some types of employment could be a problem.

Hope this helps
Love Linda xxx

[leslie]

2 winters in a row, yes crap. but, the beauty of the uninsulated housing issue is you can always bring/ buy a heater. presto - worst of the problem solved. its a problem with a solution and a beautiful summer at the end of it.

[chrissie]

Veronica,
I agree 100% with you that winter is NOT a good time to arrive here. We arrived end of August and it is the weeks spent house-hunting cold, damp, dark houses that sent me 'over the edge' into the awful depression that I suffered.
Also, there are far fewer houses to choose from in the way of rentals and purchases at that time of year because people are not putting their houses on the market until the school year finishes in Nov/Dec.
Now I notice there is a MUCH better choice of houses and the weather is SO much better...I would definitely recommend arriving here in the summer if at all possible!! I am certain it would have made a HUGE difference to us in our attempts to settle here...

[Diny]

Veronica

I'm by no means tough !!! You often speak as though you know me - believe me - you don't !!! As for having the cushion of PB's family ..... well that comment is proof. We'll be living about a 7 hour drive from the inlaws and I very much doubt there'll be too many visits. I'm not about to go into a full account of the relationship between 'them and us' ..... but I can assure you of one thing .......... a cushion they ain't !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I simply meant that (like ourselves) we've been waiting for the last loose ends to be tied up (i.e. the house sale). Everything else is done and dusted and the waiting game is leaving us on a knife edge. If we should suddenly get a buyer for our house and a quick settlement, meaning we are able to leave here in June/July/August, the fact that we would be heading into a winter would NEVER make us consider delaying our departure.

I totally agree that arriving in the winter would not be ideal for a number of reasons. Getting off the plane into bright warm sunshine has got to be better than arriving in cold, grey weather. I don't know about anybody else, but the timing of our immigration hasn't gone exactly as we planned/hoped. We expected to be there around Christmas, but like Linda has said - that's not a particularly ideal time to arrive either as everywhere was closed down.

As for the problems regarding cold houses - well Leslie hit the nail right on the head ...... buy a heater. I'm not tough, I don't have the proverbial 'cushion of family' .... I'm just fed up of being delayed and I realise that immigration works to its own agenda.

Diny

[Moorf]

I guess it's just really, really hard to explain just HOW cold and damp it can be in rentals.. I/we were just trying to get that across - before I came I would also have not thought about this aspect, nor thought it would affect me, but it really did and whilst everyone will do what is best with regards timing their arrival I just wanted to share my experience.

At least for winter we will be in a property of our choice that we have ensured has adequate heating :nice1

[Diny]

I totally agree.

For somebody who's only ever visited NZ in the height of summer I think the winters will be abit of a shock. :eek

Some of PB's family live in houses that have about as much warmth as our garden shed - not very comfortable at all, not exactly 'cushioned dwellings'.

Also I think where abouts in NZ you're going to be has something to do with it too. Those folks who are heading 'up north' won't be as cold as somebody heading down to Dunedin or anywhere around there.

I agree with Veronica that missing the winter would be a good idea for some. If you can 'engineer' for your arrival to be in the summer months then that really IS the best time to arrive. I'm just saying that I could never imagine us being ready to depart and then holding on for a few months until the summer. In fact I could imagine the reaction from PB if I should even suggest such a thing
http://tcwozere.co.uk/smileys/cwm44.gif

Diny

[veronica]

I reckon that everyone on the forum should post their honest impressions after their first winter. Doesn't count if you have bags of dosh and have bought a superdooper insulated and centrally heated house. Got to be those in rentals or 'undone up' houses.

[Moorf]

I'm am dreading the proper winter somewhat.. seeing as we arrived in Sept and, although it was unseasonably cold, it was still nothing to what midwinter might bring :eek

[veronica]

's all right Moorf just that Pete and I joined the rest of the population here and wore our thermals (called polyprops here) under our other clothes from one end of the winter to the other, and thats coming from someone who doesnt generally wear thermals when skiing. You know that fashion of long sleeve T shirts with a short sleeve one on top....that originated here with the ts over the thermals. Just glad we had the ski shop and a massive supply of warm gear. :laugh

[Moorf]

Hmm there's some polyprops with my name on them at your shop!! :laugh What month do we start buying??!!!

Hopefully our stuff in storage will arrive before winter - have some thermals in there along with our ski gear and handwarmers!!

Have you tried the Icebreaker stuff..? It's MAGIC.. :nice1

http://www.icebreaker.co.nz/

[jhsay]

Hi Lindajax,
Thanks for the advice. Hubby is definitely no coming there between Dec to early January (he's going there first, we'll follow when he's settled).

How about May to July? I believe it starts getting cold there during this time? Will employers give him a "cold" shoulder if knocks on thier door during winter. We don't worry much about the weather bec. he's staying in a friends house that is warm enough.

Thanks again.

jinkee

[foolsgold99]

screw the weather, let's not be whinging poms. we're going as soon as the house sells.

We've both been through south atlantic winters in the falklands with 100+ days of consecutive snow. A bit of rain and wind isn't going to put us off.

[leslie]

hah. for a country that didn't have vcr's 15 years ago and b/w tv reigned supreme you've all gone just a little soft!!! i remember walking past an sw15 council house that was being knocked down when the bath fell into the kitchen - maybe 7 years ago - and noticing that it didn't even have insulation , just some rubbish board over concrete block. what excellent building standards the uk had! when i first moved to london i lived in a knighstbridge mansion block flat up 11 flights of stairs (double height ceilings) and it had 5 skylights /no heating. now that was interesting. in cambridge we had a single portable radiator for the entire cottage. we must have felt cold sometimes (thus the heater) but the only thing that ever made me feel miserable was boyfriend. i am notorious for my dislike of the cold when unrelated to skiing, and i grew up with central heating, dishwashers, colour tv in kids bedrooms etc but never found the shock of the cold/ damp the way you all seem to! maybe its catharsis?

[Soon2baKiwi]

It's not really being soft imo. I will always remember the joy of leaving our flat in Wanstead (in 1996) where the water used to freeze in the bath plug hole and we used to sit with our feet off the floor and towels over our heads to keep the heat in :laugh , and arriving in our lovely warm maisonette that was ours, all ours, with central heating and no draughts. Maybe it's the damp that's the problem. A dry coldness doesn't feel half so bad as when it's cold AND damp.

[Tate6]

I completely agree that arriving in winter would not be a good time.
When hubby and I were first married, he was in the Navy. I flew down from Wisconsin (where -40 F is normal winter weather, for several months), in January, to meet him in Florida, where he was to be stationed. Now, normally, someone coming from winter in Wisconsin, to Florida, would think it was heaven! But I arrived and it was cloudy and cold for weeks! We had nowhere to stay, had hardly any money, no vehicle. I really think that set the stage for my feelings on living in Florida. I hated it from the moment I arrived until I left 3 years later. Of course, 2 months after arriving, found out hubby was leaving on a 6 month cruise!!
Florida is definitely not NZ, but first impressions when you are vulnerable due to leaving family, friends and comfort of routine, can be long-lasting.
I doubt I would pass up going to NZ, no matter what the season, but if you can make it closer to spring or summer, I would surely try.

Of course, we just came off of weeks of way below zero weather and then a foot of snow after that, so I think winter in NZ would be a vacation!! ;)

Best of luck to all, no matter what time of year you get there!

Terry

[jo b]

I suppose it also depends on whether you have secured that elusive job in NZ. You really wouldn't want to keep an employer waiting because of the weather.

Although if they were flexible and you can engineer it that way it would be better. Although I can't think of many who would.

Jo

[veronica]

I did say in the original post if there was no specific date involved, obviously if there is a job involved its going to set a start time and if thats the middle of winter so be it.
Lindajax is dead on when she says not to arrive over the Xmas period, at least not unless you have managed to sort out a lot of things like accomodation before hand. We were a bit surprised by the no. of companies that shut down for the holiday period and didn't return to work until the 5th Jan, and even more surprised at the no. who didn't return until the 13th Jan.

Any of you guys who are coming over to job offers getting the first couple of weeks accomodation paid for? That would obviously be a big plus. When our son in law came over the company paid for the 1st month at a motel for them.

[Mike & Nicola]

We're planning on arriving at the start of December for this very reason. Basically, we plan to take 2 months out, and see as much of NZ as we can with a view to settling where we like (and most importantly where we can get a job - Auckland/Welly most probables). The timing is related to various factors - gives us plenty of time to leave the UK behind/goodbyes, holiday in nearby places we havent been to yet , save money (although the previous line contradicts :oops: ), and most importantly tour NZ for the summer/holiday period! :cool The way we looked at it, if we're going to take 2 months out, we may as well do it when businesses shut down and job hunting is a non-starter.

[captainxmas]

To be honest, I'd rather settle in during the damp an dreary days, knowing full well that there will be a great Summer to enjoy once all that relocating dust has settled. :yes

Our first visit with my father in-law was 2 weeks of tropical rain in a relocated railway office that had seen better days and we had travelled standby with only hand luggage! So we have experienced the 'Land of the long damp winter'

;)

[macs gold]

Its a bit hit and miss any time of the year.

For example, if you arrived in Dunedin last June you would have been impressed with the weather (beautifully fine). But if you arrived in November or December it was unseasonably cold and wet.

Apparently the whole of NZ's weather pattern has been very iffy the past couple of years. Jan/Feb/Mar are statistically the best months, and less likely to have unseasonably bad weather.

[veronica]

Hiya Macs Gold, its not so much about arriving for the best weather, because although December was unseasonably cold it was warm. Its about whether you think that living in an uncentrally heated and damp rental for the first 3 months will maybe lessen your chances of making a go of it here.

[Moorf]

I agree, it can literally "dampen" your spirits. Having lived in Scotland for the last 7 yrs and renovated an old house and no heating for quite some time we felt quite prepared .. we even had our skiing thermals to hand - but nope, we weren't well enough prepared (like I said before it is really hard to explain the cold (remember I am on South Island)) and I spent 2 nights in tears and several layers before we could get to a shop to buy to big oil heaters! :?

Your arrival date is just one more thing you "can" control amidst lots of others things you can't.. like emotions and weather! :P